While New Jersey Catholics are trying to pray the gay away, more liberal-minded citizens are hoping Congress will finally make some head way for the gays. Three major bills are on the docket, all of which will significantly change the face of American politics.
One of these bills, of course, hopes to overthrow the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. That measure will be introduced on Wednesday. Further down the line, politicians will battle it out over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and a new hate-crime law that will protect gays nationwide from homophobic violence. While gay rights activists have applauded these moves, people on the right aren’t so cheerty. Of ENDA, Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins laughably commented:
I’m sure there’s probably a case here and there. But I’ve seen more discrimination of people of religious faith than I’ve seen of gay people in the work force.
Oh yeah? We’d like to see those figures.
As for the proposed hate crime laws, Perkins mused: “It’s taking us to the point where anyone who opposes the sexual behavior of homosexuals will be silenced”. We don’t mean to picky (okay, yes we do), but offering someone protection from violence hardly constitutes a violation of free speech. You can say whatever the fuck you want. Just no hitting. Sticks and stones and all that…
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It’s unclear whether the bills will pass, although many believe the Democrat majority will help things on their way. Even if they do make it past lawmakers, President Bush has the power to knock them down. Will he use his executive power for good or evil? We’re not holding our breath…
Paul Raposo
I think this is all for political show. The Dems will say that they “tried” and the Repubs will say they “stopped” these bills and then everyone will go back to using us as a wedge issue to gain more votes and forget about us on November 12, 2008. Let’s all hope I’m dead wrong, though.
John
Both bills will easily pass in the House. If the last couple of months is any indication… Pelosi seems to run a much tighter ship than Hastert did. She doesn’t talk about any piece of legislation without having a majority for it. That’s why the House Democratic Leadership hasn’t mentioned gay rights since November. The fact that they’re talking about it now suggests the bean counters have concluded the votes are there.
Bush and the Republicans in the Senate can always veto or filibuster these bills though. At the very least, they’ll attempt to win concessions on exempting “religious and faith-based organizations” or produce wrecking amendments to”protect employers who endorse traditional marriage.”
If they sense public support is wavering, they might even try to stop the process altogether. However, since public support for hate crimes and ENDA is generally much higher than same-sex marriage, the Republicans have to be careful not to overdo the anti-gay rethoric. If they come off like hateful bullies and pricks (like with the Terri Schiavo case), it’ll only hurt them in the long run.
Ben
Really Tony?
Because I’ve always figured that a person being discriminated against for being gay was someone being discriminated against because of the way they live out there personal moral beliefs.
Couldn’t sound any more like religious discrimination to me.
The gay rights movement struggles because it tragically follows a racial model for justifying rights, whereas it should follow a religious model. What Right wing religious person would argue against freedom for religion?